Benita is delighted to return to the Fort Salem Theater having performed here for eight summers earlier this decade. She was part of the Singing Anchors and also appeared in They’re Playing Our Song And Getting My Act Together and Taking it on the Road. After 41 years anchoring and reporting the news (WNYT) Benita recently changed careers to become a certified health and wellness coach. The move affords her more time for her passion; performing. A proud member of Actors Equity Association Benita has been seen in Cabaret and Sweeney Todd with the Two of Us Productions in Copake, NY. Benita has appeared with Park Playhouse in Ragtime, Hands-on Hardbody, Always, Patsy Cline. At Capital Repertory Theater she was in Shakespeare in Love and Gypsy. She has also performed with Theater Voices,

Albany Civic Theatre, Schenectady Civic Theatre, Schenectady Light Opera and Glens Fall Community Theater. She has also appeared in a number of independent films and co-hosts the bi- monthly podcast Everything Theater. Benita is delighted to be part of this production celebrating the strength of female friendship. As always, love to Bob.

Josie is a New York City transplant living in Wilton. She is so grateful to once again be part of the Fort Salem Theater Family. She is tremendously thankful for the entire cast and crew of Steel Magnolias, we've laughed, cried and held beautiful space together. She has appeared on stage and television. Roles include The Diary of Anne Frank (Mrs. Van Dann) , Book of Job (Dancer, Friend), Guardians of the Treasure (Sara), American Soup (Helen), Pinocchio (Columbina, Cat), Jesus Christ Superstar (Dancer, Ensemble). PSA for NYS Department of Health (Lead), PSA for NYS Department of Transportation (Lead). She is a wife, mother of three, and professional photographer. She would like to thank her husband for his never ending support and encouragement. She would like to dedicate this performance to her mother.

Iris is a graduate of Purchase College where she graduated with a Bachelor of Music with a focus in Operatic Studies and vocal performance. She returned to the Fort Salem Theater stage playing the role of Audrey for a second time in the production of Little Shop of Horrors. Iris has also been seen at FST as Cindy Lou in The Wonderettes and in this past winter's production of Snow Business. Pre-pandemic, Iris had also performed in the productions of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Olive), Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey), Hänsel und Gretel (Hänsel), The Crucible (Rebecca Nurse), and and doubled in L’incoronazione di Poppea as Arnalta and Nutrice. In 2020, Iris was fortunate to perform as a vocalist in the Susan B Anthony Project at Hubbard Hall, a theatrical piece with music written and performed by local artist Bob Warren. Iris also owns a local business in Hebron, (Homestead Hemp 1787) and recently hit a viral wave when she started sharing stories about her family farm on Tiktok.

Debbie lives on a 12-acre farm in Eagle Bridge, NY with 16 hens, 5 cats, and one husband. She is thrilled to be appearing in her first production at Fort Salem Theater. Select past roles include Goldie in ALIEN/NATION at Williamstown Theatre Festival, M’Lynn in Steel Magnolias at the Central Florida Community Theatre, Janet in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Wicked Witch in The Wizard of Oz, and Belle Schlumpfert in Little Me. Debbie thanks the cast and crew. She would like to dedicate her performance to Laurie Mills. Happy birthday, B! I f-ing love you!

Dorothy Slim Van Pelt is thrilled to be returning to the Fort Salem Theater. She performed her first role here as Anne in The Diary of Anne Frank last October. A sophomore at Greenwich Central school, Dorothy enjoys running track, and spends most of her time expanding her interests in the arts. She has had a lovely time connecting with this cast, and is ecstatic to debut her southern accent in Steel Magnolias.

Caroline is very excited to make her acting debut at Fort Salem Theater’s production of Steel Magnolias! When she’s not making sassy comments with an innocent southern wink, you can find her at Cambridge Central School, working as the Secondary Principal. When not at work, Caroline loves to spend time exploring the world and traveling as much as she can! She would like to thank Kyle West and Tracy Wesley for taking a chance on an aspiring actress/comedian as well as Maureen Cossey for encouraging her to audition for the role of Miss Ouiser. Caroline would also like to thank her husband, family and friends for their support and tolerance as she worked to hone her craft with a healthy dose of southern charm!

Tracey has cultivated a life-long passion for theatre, graduating in 1981 with a BA degree in Theatre Arts from Castleton State College (now Castleton University). She went on to study acting and voice in London, participating in workshops with the Royal Shakespeare Company. In recent years she took a summer acting course at the Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin, Ireland. Tracey is a classically trained soprano and has been a featured soloist with the Granville Area Chorus and Vermont Opera Theatre.

Tracey acted for many years prior to finding that her real passion was directing. Teamed with her techie husband Dave (BA, Visual Arts, Middlebury College) she developed an award-winning drama program during her 23 years at Long Trail School (LTS) in Dorset, Vermont. In addition to performing in Dorset, she and her husband have taken productions all over the state of Vermont with the Vermont State Drama Festival. She is a past president of the Vermont State Drama Council as well as being a member of the New England Drama Council.

Her productions have been nominated numerous times to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland and she and her husband have had the pleasure of taking three productions to that audience.

She has mentored students in playwriting and they have taken first place in the Dorset Theatre Festival Young Playwrights Competition on several occasions. A group of students collaborated during a class and wrote a play that was subsequently published.

Two summers ago Tracey took part in Shakespeare in the Woods inaugural season by directing The Taming of the Shrew. Currently she is directing an original one-act at Dorset Playhouse.

Tracey has many former students who are working professionally in the theatre world today. She acted many years ago at Fort Salem Theatre and is looking forward to returning this season.

Maureen attended The Crane School of Music and SUNY Albany, majoring in music. She has been in numerous local productions, including those at Hubbard Hall Opera Theater. At Fort Salem Theater, Maureen has served as stage manager, lighting designer, sound designer, and music director, working on shows like There’s No Business Like Snow Business, a John Denver Christmas, and Little Shop of Horrors, where she performed the singing voice of Audrey II.

Current engagements include music ministry director at 3 local churches, resident Stage Manager at Hubbard Hall, and vocal coach.

Charles is a well-rounded artist who dabbles in creative writing, HDR photography, graphic design, improvisational piano, original song composition, building fun things and scenic design for theater. While attending Southern Vermont College 2001-2005 he worked summers at Old Castle Theater in Bennington, VT (2000 to 2005) where he learned, by observation, volumes on the art of stagecraft and theatrical techniques and best practices. As a stage director, Charles directed Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus in 2004 at his then-former High School, and The Glass Menagerie at Southern Vermont College in 2009. Charles has over eight years of experience designing set, artistic/stage directing, assistant directing and serving as a theatrical creative-solutions consultant (for a local high school drama club). Shows he has designed include The Diary of Anne Frank (now twice 2007 and 2021) Once Upon a Mattress, Rumors, The Importance of Being Earnest, Beauty and the Beast, Into the Woods, Twelve Angry Jurors, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, And Then There Were None, The Sound of Music, Noises Off, Shrek the Musical, and The Mousetrap. He feels truly thankful and honored to design for Fort Salem Theater after taking some time away from theatrical design and is looking forward to contributing more in the near future.

JJ is thrilled to be back at Fort Salem. He spent four summers as the costume and wig designer in the late 90’s/early 2000’s. This production of Steel Magnolias with mark his 9th time working on this show. He has costumed and wigged over 80 shows. He also appeared onstage as Arnold Beckoff in “Torch Song,” Sen. Charles Whittmore in “Church and State,” Nurse Ratched in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” Mitch in “A Streetcar Named Desire,” Roy Cohn in “Angels in America Part One,” Oscar in “The Odd Couple,” Collins in “RENT,”Mr. Dussell in “The Diary of Anne Frank,” Sam in “Lips Together, Teeth Apart,” Ned in “The Normal Heart,” Franklin Hart Jr in “9to5 the Musical,” Brian in “Avenue Q,” Elliot in “Life in 3D,” Harry in “Company,” Lennie in “Of Mice and Men,” CB in “Dog Sees God,” Cliff in “Cabaret,” Dasher in “The Eight Reindeer Monologues,” Rulon Stacy & Others in “The Laramie Project,” Peter in “The Heidi Chronicles,” Dad in “The Graduate,” Brother Leo in “Nuncrackers,” Mrs. Forrest in “Psycho Beach Party” Father Flynn in “Doubt,” Rev. Mother in “Nunsense” & “Nunsense 2,” Melvin P. Thorpe in “The Best Little…in Texas” Duke in “The Great American Trailer Park Musical,” Amos in “Chicago,” ” Man in Chair in “Drowsy Chaperone,” Edna in “Hairspray.” and the title role in “Jeffrey & “Barnum.” He is also a playwright and has written “Chasing Charles” where he played Dennis, “Strong St” where he played Bernie, “P-town” where he played Rusty and the one-act “Choices” where he played Ethan. He is currently working on a new musical about Judy Garland. A special thanks to my family & friends for all their love & support & to my husband Chad for putting up with all my craziness.

John has been active as a music director and conductor since 2005, working at the community, educational, and regional theatre level in both Upstate New York and the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. John most recently worked as the Music and Technical Director for the Fort Salem Theater productions of The Marvelous Wonderettes and Next to Normal, as well as the lighting and sound technician for The Diary of Anne Frank. Originally from Utica, NY - John has a Bachelors of Music from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam, where he studied music theory and history. He then continued his graduate studies at the University of North Texas, where he graduated with Master’s and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in Performance, studying Orchestral Conducting under Anshel Brusilow and Clay Couturiaux.

Kyle has three decades of creating award-winning theatre under his belt, working as a producer, director, choreographer, designer, and performer. His work has been seen all across the US, from Cape Cod, to Boston, Arizona and Dallas, to New York and has been recognized by the AriZoni Awards of Excellence, BroadwayWorld Awards, Column Awards, Annie Award, MET Awards, and MHSDG Awards, among others.

Kyle is humbled to be the executive and artistic director of Fort Salem Theater, where he has directed and choreographed The Marvelous Wonderettes, Next to Normal, and There’s No Business Like Snow Business. Kyle is also honored to be president of the Salem NY Area Chamber of Commerce.